Friday, March 29, 2024

A Single's Guide to Valentine's Day

February 13, 2020
Emily Bevard poses for a portrait Feb. 12, 2020.
Emily Bevard poses for a portrait Feb. 12, 2020. —
Photo by Matt Schmucker | The State News

Don’t you just hate it when the month of February hits and everything turns red and pink in the spirit of love? No matter where you go, heart-shaped decorations are plastered all around, making you shake your head and roll your eyes. What’s the point of Valentine’s Day anyway? 

Sure, you get flowers or chocolates, but it’s guaranteed I’d kill the flowers within a week. Plus, I can (and I do) buy myself chocolates any day of the week. So do we really have to be sad and lonely on the day most people celebrate love, or can we consider being single a blessing in disguise?

You can decide that for yourself. What I can tell you is how to not only survive, but also enjoy the day you’ve been dreading. Whether you recently turned single or have always prided yourself on being independent of relationship drama, this guide is for you.

Movies with some Ben & Jerry’s: Let’s face it, no significant other can be more important than ice cream. Plus, most of the memorable Valentine’s dates end up being the ones where you stay in watching Netflix anyway. Do you really need to be in a relationship to watch “Titanic” or “The Shining”? If so, ice cream is your one true love — and you already know that.

 

Treat yourself: If Valentine’s Day is all about love, how about showing some self-love? If you’ve been wanting to splurge on a piece from the recent Victoria’s Secret lingerie collection you’ve been eyeing or just on a bucket of chocolate, now is the right time. You don’t have to have a Valentine to enjoy Valentine’s Day shopping deals.

 

Spend the day your way: This one is my favorite. Valentine’s Day literally has no rules. Don’t have a partner to spend the day with? A dog or cat make the perfect cuddle partners. Don’t have any pets? Call up one of your friends and spend the day with them. No one’s stopping you from spending the day however you want. Galentine’s with your girls or guys, “Calentine’s” with cats or “Dalentine’s” with dogs — make it what you want it to be!

 

Go watch a game: Especially on campus, sports are always a good option when you want to go out and have a fun time. This Valentine’s Day, Michigan State plays the University of Michigan in hockey. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet up with your buddies and watch a good rivalry while you root for your home team. 

 

You don’t have to romanticize a single day: Relationships do not necessarily make your life better. Sure, it might look fun from the outside, but not having someone around doesn’t have to mean anything, unless you apply meaning. Think of it this way, you’re saving money that others are spending to treat their partners and I see that as an absolute win. Which brings us to our next best thing to do…

 

Take a sigh of relief: No drama. No expectations. Just take a deep breath and relax! You don’t have to stress about planning the most romantic night for your partner or dread about not meeting the standards associated with that. Get those bath bombs out and take a long soothing soak as you sip from a glass of delicious wine. 

 

Do nothing: Seriously, do nothing. No one said you have to do something just because it’s a day with a name and not just a regular Friday. We get it, if you’re in a relationship, Valentine’s Day can be a super great time. All we’re saying is, if you’re spending the day single, it doesn’t have to feel any different than the other 364 days out of the year. 

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